Police is Back

Today was announced that Militsya will be called Police - it does not seem to please a lot of people even if nothing will changed. But an association decided to say thank you to them. Just observe that they mainly kissed girls - they did not want to get shot. No joke over here.

Sunday Hit IV

Expat Explanation: When my old pager is ringing with its Pacman 8-bit ringtone, I know this is going to crazy. So crazy that some Russians will speak English, imitating Bon Jovi, playing in a supermarket. Obviously in the electronics department with TV everywhere. Some old phnes are also available and Halloween is obviously approaching.

'We Are Different'

As much as the Russians claim it all the time, especially in advertising industry, I'm really sorry to say that Russians are not different. Or, in that case, each country, each culture, each history is different.

The only thing that may annoy them is the communication brought by international brands without any sense of local understanding (it may be the guilt of shitty agencies over here). Tell me if this brand of cigarette took the time to go on Internet to understand what Moscow looked like in the winter before posting that in the metro.

We are all different. Some of us are bloody stupid.

Green Washing

Who would believe that? Russia is becoming a first-class supporter of eco-friendly behaviours. Well, let's not be so fast but the same country that hosts SUV drivers with the sticker 'Fuck Fuel Economy' on their trunk is about to launch their first green vehicle http://inhabitat.com/first-russian-hybrid-car-coming-in-2012/ . And I'm sure that investigating a bit more Runet will give you some hints about a more responsible future. We're far to be living in Luxembourg but everything seems to go in a good direction. The supermarket chain Perekrostok is opening some 'green' stores and McDonald's does not see any problem to import their new concept on the Russian territory. Even Giant Gazprom is making an effort http://www.gazprom.com/press/news/2010/november/article105959/. Reality or manipulation. Russian style anyway.

Training for Sotchi 2014

Mad Maxim

GTA � Moscou - Video

Riot Act

Revolutions used to occur in summer. Forget about it. A wave of violence took over Europe in the last few weeks, at the middle of a snowy winter, even coming to the center of Moscow. After (in random order) London and its hungry students, Italy and its hungry anti-Berlusconi or classic France with its hungry French, here comes Russia and its hungry everybody. In a country where the riots are rare and often violently controled by the police, the last week was quite a big deal for moscovites.

After the death of a Spartak fan last week, killed by Caucasian origins lads, a terrible street fighting started to be organized between Russian fascits and Caucasus natives. After last week-end fight on Manezhnaya Place (near the Kremlin, 30 injured people), we saw again a serie of provocative clashes between ethnic minorities and ultranationalists near the Kievsky Station.

Poutine, not far from a little word of propaganda, had tough talk about 'bacillus of nationalism' and wanted Russian people to thank the police to protect them so well. Funny...not really actually.

Smack my Bitch Up (Russian Version)

Fast Company

Something freaks me out about Russia. There is a lot of things to invent here, mainly concerning services. This field is still under-invested (the sense of service is still something difficult to fully get for Russian people). But still, Moscow is a booming city, so what is the result? People are just developing some stuff which are already crowdy and with a lot of players. You see appearing everyday some me-too offers, without communication and product differentiation.

Look at that paying machine (where you can put cash on your phone, your Internet and other services). These are the brands delivering Internet connection. I let you counting them, but really, it does not make sense. Dudes, try to invest in something innovative for once.

(Dirrty Frank, looking for his provider since 3 minutes)

WikiKremlin

I would not report exactly what was disclosed by the Wikileaks few days ago about many important people in trhe world. I would not say here that Medvedev is considered as useless, Poutine as a dominant male and Russia as a mafia-ruled state by the US diplomats. I would like to share with you that clouding done by Fast Company. The bigger the word, the more repeated in the messages that were discovered. I was quite surprised to see Russia in a second position, even without cold war or evident threats. For sure, Russia is still a big topic for Americans.

Reading the Future

While the iPad was launched few weeks ago only, Russian people did not wait for Steve to start using digital reading devices. I remember my first post of this blog, highlighting the fact that people in Moscow were handling books a lot in transport. Few years have passed and they obviously took the trend on their side. But using some other devices then the worldwide blockbusters (iPad, Kindle, Samsung). You can see mainly some chinese or asian brands delivering a black/white/grey blurry enjoyable reading experience. Nevertheless, reading stays the great escape the gloomy environment over here

(Photos: Dirrty Frank, fully Mac equiped)

Moscovite Diversity

Nobody would be surprised that the last census showed that 12% of Russians consider themselves as Muslims. In a country with so many cultures, so many origins and so many people, that's a normal fact. The big thing is that we don't give to the people the necessary places to follow their faith or at least to be in peace with their beliefs. You would argue that Kazan reveals one of the most beautiful mosque in Eastern Europe and that Russia built a brand new one near Prospekt Mira. But as usual in Russia, does it sound like enough to integrate those people into the society? What do you think conservative Russian people would think seeing those pictures on the web? And, of course, what would be their reaction, seeing that and relating them to the numerous bomb attacks in the country? I'm not saying Europe is doing better but there is a big room for improvement to ease integration and avoid racism/xenophobia which are still very strong here.

Got Moloko?

Definitely on the Go

Bloody hell, where are the shitty kiosks where we were buying our warm beers at 4am or our outdated kebab after a long working day. If somebody knows where they disappeared, please mention it in the comments. Hundreds of them disappeared in the center of the city in the last few days. I'm really worried...

(Photo: Dirrty Frank. Who made that decision? The new ghost mayor?)

Flower Power

I've never seen a country with so many florists than Moscow - even Paris is not at that level. I can't explain the success of it apart of the intent from Russian people to put romantism at the core of their life. It's not rare to see people with flowers at the train station, at the restaurant for friends or beloved, for birthdays, for colleagues...

Well, there is always a limit. How many guys I've seen in the metro, dead drunk, falling asleep or ready to bring up, obviously late to get to home, with a ridiculous rose that would help them to get forgiveness from their wives. Romantism is where you want to find it.

(Photos: Dirrty Frank, always a rose crossing his smile)

Smile of the Month

Census on TV

This is the national census in Russia at the moment. Everybody is asked to deliver all the information necessary to understand the status of the population. But when the Prime Minister and his wife are doing it, it becomes a real event. And a real bunch of jokes on Internet http://radulova.livejournal.com/1969461.html

I Shot Myself Today

I've created an international project called Ipeka, a artistic collective that destroys boundaries between discipline and focused on storytelling. This is one of our first projects, completely driven from Moscow but with an international cast. You can follow us on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/pages/IPEKA/101264169925374?ref=search . See you soon.

Make Love, Not Worm

The longest conversations in Moscow these days are about the 'Kremlin Worm'. Found in his plate by Dmitry Zelenin (governor of Tverskaya region) during an official lunch at the Kremlin, that little animal is raising interest until the highest level of the Russian political hierarchy. Actually, the modern Zelenin put that photo on his twitter and created one of the most incredible scandals (he removed the photo since then, understanding his unfortunate provocation). Medvedev wanted to fire him, a lot of blogs mentioned him, jokes are already circulating, foreign press is making fun about him...and our little friend has got even his own twitter now http://twitter.com/KremlinCherv.

You don't have to be fat and impressive to succeed in Russia. A star is born.

Dirty Job